In the puzzle of history, archives are the clues.

• records created by individuals, institutions and governments.

• the institutions that preserve them.

Archives are:

The UW Oshkosh Archives and Area Research CenterUniversity Archives

University Records from 1869.

Area Research CenterRecords of the State Historical Society for Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette and Winnebago counties.

One of 14 ARCs statewide. Transfer system allows for collections from across the state to be used here.

So, what are archives really?

• Types of Records: correspondence, diaries, business records, government records, interviews, speeches, minutes of meetings, newspapers, etc.

• Formats: paper, photographs, sound recordings, film and video recordings, electronic records.

Archival, primary resources are “of” history and not “about” history.

Puzzle: Who were the victims of the flu?

Records and publications to use to find out:

– Death records– Newspaper obituaries– Census records (1910)– Naturalization records– City directories– Other vital records– & many more

Death Records

1918-1919 death records are available from the Winnebago County Register of Deeds office.

County Court House415 Jackson St.

$9 a copy

NewspapersMicrofilm of papers dated October – December

1918.

Oshkosh NorthwesternMenasha RecordNeenah Times Omro HeraldWinneconne Local

1910 CensusThe census asked questions about the entire family. Information includes age, citizenship and marital status, occupation and level of education. Unlike other censuses, there is no index available for 1910. You must know street address to locate a family.

First, get address from death record. Locate which ward the street is in.

Phillip Gordon lives at 1404 7th St. with his wife Mary and their six

children.

Early naturalization records tell us where the person immigrated from, when and where they entered the country. Post 1906 records are more descriptive.

Winnebago records from 1856. All are indexed.

City directories list people by name and by address. Volumes available from 1862, including 1916, 1914, 1912 & 1908.

Vital records include birth, death, marriage and divorce records.

• The UW Oshkosh Archives has pre-1907 B,D & M and divorces from 18482-1890 & 1908-1938. Cost to copy= 10 cents.

• The Winnebago Register of Deeds has all B, D & M and no divorces. Cost to copy= $9.

Indexes are available at both locations.

Other clues for the puzzle

• High school annuals Most at Oshkosh Public Library, some at archives.

• Probate (Wills)List of all probate action August 1918 – June 1919 is

available at archives.

• Tax RollsDepending on community, check archives.

• MapsPlat maps will show ownership of land in rural areas. Sandborn maps will show details of houses in cities and towns.

The essentials

The Archives and Area Research Center is located on the 3rd floor of the Polk Library.

Open:Monday – Friday 9:00 – 12:00 & 1:00 – 4:00&Tuesday evenings from 6:00 – 10:00

No archivist on Tuesday mornings.

The rules

• Materials do not circulate (you cannot check them out)

• Materials can only be use during hours of archives.

• Register upon first visit• Sign in and out upon every visit. • Pencils only when using paper

records.

Good luck